Splice for grating structures



June 22, 1948. PRINCE 2,443,801

SPLICE FOR GRATING STRUCTURES Filed March 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5w? ro/v A. pm/c5 BY lgvvgw ATTORNEYS June 22, 1948. B. A. PRINCE SPLICE FOR GRATING STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1945 ZZZ-c. 3.

E 3 C Rw m m 4 WWW l A N Patented June 22, 1948 SPLICE FOR GRATING STRUCTURES Burton A. Prince, Westfield, Mass., assignor to Walter Edward Irvihg, Glenbrook, Conn.

Application March 22, 1945, Serial No. 584,077

This invention relates to improvements in continuous grating structures, and more particularly to a splice for coupling the ends of adjacent grating panels together to form a uniform trafiicbearing grating surface over which motor vehicles and the like are adapted to travel. Such grating structures are known as decking and are used upon bridges, elevated highways, roadways, to form a traffic-bearing surface. i

The primary object of this invention is to provide 2. splice coupling for the adjacent meeting ends of grating panels which maintains the continuity of the traffic-bearing surface throughout the area of the decking or grating structure, so that the wheels of a motor vehicle may ride smoothly over the structure. Heretofore, splice joints between grating panels which break the continuity of the traflic-bearing surface have caused the occupants of motor vehicles passing over such joints to experience the sensation of the vehicle weaving and swaying which is similar to a skidding sensation.

Other important features of the invention are; to provide a welded splice connection between the ends of adjacent grating panels which eliminates ofiset bars and low crimps in the reticuline strips; no rivets in the end splice; easier to assemble on a job, for the welding clip compensates for any variations in the grating panels due to the fact that the panels are butted end to end; reduction in the amount of labor upon a job, for a single welder can do the work of several riveters; eliminates four-bar clusters at the joint; and the grating panels per se stand shipment well without damage to the free coupling ends thereof.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of adjacent ends of a pair of grating panels in separated relation for subsequent coupling together by means of my improved splice, parts being broken away in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pair of grating panels having their adjacent ends connected together by my improved splice.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of'the free meeting ends of a pair of grating panels prior to the insertion of the welding clip.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the welding clip in position and the completed splice connection.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fi ure 4.

realms, (01. 189-82) a 2 Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the splice clip per 58. r

Figure 8 is a detail vertical sectional view illuse trating a modified form of welding clip.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of. the weldin clip per se shown in Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference charactors, and at present to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. the letters A and B designate two trafiic-bearing grating panels arranged in end to end relation and forming part of one row of panels, it being understood that any number of rows of panels may form the decking or grating structure depending on the width of the same.

The grating panels A and B are of like construction, therefore a description of one will suffice for the other. i

Each traific-bearing panel includes a plurality of spaced longitudinal metal bars, the number of which depends upon the width of the panel desired. 'The length of the bars also depends upon the length of the panel desired, and in practice, the length and width of each panel will be such as to enable the expeditious handling of the panels during shop manufacture, shipment, and upon a job. For illustrative purposes, only four of such longitudinal bars have been shown in the drawings and are respectively designated l0, ll, l2 and I3. The bars ill and [3 constitute outer bars while the bars II and I2 are intermediate bars. Interposed between the bars I!) and H, II and l2, l2 and [3, are crimped metal strips l d, l5 and 16 respectively.

The straight bars H], H, l2, and I3 are of the same length but their ends terminate in alternate staggered relationso. that the spliced joints therebetween will be correspondingly staggered to impart added strength thereto.

The opposed ends of each straight bar is provided with an elongated slot I! which extends inwardly from the end edge thereof and is disposed adjacent and parallel to the top bearing surface of the bar.

The crimped strips l4, l5, and I6 are of the same length and the respective ends thereof terminate in transverse alinement as best illustrated in Figure 1. Each crimped strip is provided with flat equidistantly spaced bar-contacting portions [8, each of which is secured to its adjacent bar by a rivet l9. One end of each strip terminates in a free leg portion 20 which constitutes a partial crimp. The other end of each strip terminates in an ear 2| fixedly secured to an adjacent bar by a rivet 22. The ear 2| is the equivalent to the bar-contacting portions l8 and in conjunction with the leg portion 20 of the corresponding strip of an adjacent panel forms a complete crimp at the joint therebetween. The crimped strips are of a height less than that of the bearing bars and have their top surfaces disposed on the same plane as the top surfaces of said bars.

The panels A and Bare fabricated in the shop to the extent shown in Figure 1, wherein each panel is a complete unit in itself and the opposed ends thereof are complementary to each other.

Assume that the two shop fabricated grating faces thereof, Due to the welding clips 23 being disposed below the traction surface of the alined straight bars at the joints therebetween, the continuity of the traction surface of the straight bars is maintained.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawing I have illustrated a modified form of welding clip 30 which is constructed of flat metal capable of being weldedto the meeting ends of a pair of alined straight bars. The clip 30 includes a body portion 3! having a right angularly extending flange '32 struck out therefrom. In practice, the body portion 3| fits flat against the sides of the bars panels A and B are to be placed in positionupon a job to form a continuous trafiic-Pbearing grating structure. The panels A and B are placed end to end with one end of one panel 'inlongi- 'tudinal alinement with the complementary end of the other panel as illustrated in Figure 1. The panels may'ncw be shifted longitudinally towardeach other to cause the slotted ends of the bars to abut and the slots l! to aline,:(F'igure' 3) and the free ends of the legs 2ilt'o respectively abut the free ends of the respective ears2l as best illustrated inz'Figures 2 and 6. The panels A and B are now in a position for splicing by Welding in a'manner now to be explained.

The meeting ends of the straight bars ill-"-40, H-ll, 12-12, and |3----i3 of the panels A-and B are respectively keyed and secured together by welding coupling clips 23.

Each welding clip 23 is 'construetedrof-metal having an affinity for welding tothe meeting ends of the straight metal bars. 'The clip 23 comprises a flat Vertical Web 'or'bcdylport'ionvt l having an integral flange 25 extending from the top edge thereotand a right' angle thereto. The flange 25 is of a thickness equal to the width of the confronting slots l-l-ll and of a length equal to the combined length 'of the confronting slots.

A clip 23 is applied to the meeting ends of the respective bars of the panels A-ahd B and welded thereto in a manner new to he explained. 'The flange 25 of a clip 23 is inserted throughthe alined slots H -i7 and isof a Width to extend a substantial distance beyond the adfiacent side face of the bars" as best illustrated in Figure '5. The web or body portion lie-flatly engages the other side race of the bars and =biidg'es'the joint 'therebetweeh as illustrated in Figures land 6. After the clip 23 has been placed the position just described, a welder on the job, welds the ends of the body portion 24 to the respective bars as at 26-2B-a10hgth entiiehei'ght Of the body portion. The welder also welds the length of the free end of-the flange -25 to the adiiacer'it portion of the side faces of the bars as at -21.

When all or the meeting-ends ore-1e straight bars of panels A and B are spliced themanner just described, the free ends of the leg portions 2!] of strips it and i5 of panel'A- are respectively secured to opposite sides of straight bar H of panel B. The free end of leg portion 2% of strip iii of panel Ais likewise welded *to the straight bar 53 of panel B as at 28, prev-ie ously mentioned, the free ends of the leg portions 28 of panel A abut the respective ears 2! of the crimpe'd strips l4, l5 and lb of "panel and cooperate therev'rith to form a complete ,c'riinp at the meeting ends of the 'cri'mped strips to maintain continuity of the name bearing surto be spliced while the flange 32 extends through The ends of the body projecting portion of the flange 32 is welded to said bars as at 33. In this form of welding clip 36, the slots ll-I'I are disposed approximately midway-of the height of the bars insteadjof adjacent the top edge thereof as shown in the preceding form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive.

While I have shown and described What Iconsider to be the most practical embodiments of my invention, Ifwish it to be understood that such changes in construction and design as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is? l. A continuous trafiic-bearing grating structure comprising in combination, a pair of grating panels arranged in end to end relation, each of said grating panels having a plurality of spaced straight metalubars, the adjacent ends 'iO'f the bars being in close relation and inalongitudinal alin'ement and having alined slots extending inwardly from the said'ends thereof, metal weld memb era for connecting the respectivealined-"adjacent-ends of the bars of the panels together, each :of the weld members having a'body portion fitting against one side of .the meeting-end portions of the bars and bridging the joint there-'- between, an angularsfiahge integral with the body portion and extending through the alined slots, and :welds connecting' the weld member to the acljacentehds of said bars;

2. A continuous.'traffic-bearin'g grating structure asset forth claim 1 121 which the free end of the flange of "the weld' memberiextends of correspon'dh'rg bars being in longitudinal alinement and in relatively close relation, the

adjacent ends of'each pair of alined bars ha'ving al 'ined slots extending inwardly from the end edges thereof, metal weld clip's for-connecting the respective "al'ined adjacent ends of the bars of the panels I together, of the Weld clips comprisin a flat 'bedyyportion and a right anguiari ext'endingilange integral with the body portion, the body portion flatly fitting against one of the sides ofthe' bars and brldgingthe joint therebetween and the free end-of the flange extending through the ai'ined slots and 5 beyond the other side of said bars, welds connecting the body portion of the weld clip to the bars, and a weld connecting the free end of the flange to said bars.

4. A continuous tramc-bearing grating structure comprising in combination, a pair of like grating panels arranged in end to end relation, each of said grating panels including a plurality of spaced straight metal bars, intervening crlmped metal strips between adjacent bars, said crimped strips being of uniform length and terminating at one end of the panel in free end portions and at the other end of the panel in fixed end portions, the free end portions of one panel abutting the corresponding fixed end portions of the other panel, and welds connectin the free end portions of the crimp of one panel to the adjacent straight bars of the other panel, the adjacent ends of the bars of the panels being in longitudinal alinement, a metal welding clip bridging the joint between the adjacent ends of each pair of alined bars, and welds connecting the clips to the respective bars. 1

5. A continuous trafiic-bearing grating structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the straight 6 bars are of uniform length and alternately oflset in a longitudinal direction to cause the joints between bars of the panels to be alternately staggered in a transverse direction.

BURTON A. PRINCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Catalogue 138 of the Reliance Steel Products Co., McKeesport, Pa, pages 24 and 25. (Conv in 94-30.) 

